Charter School Backers Still Want Vote in Wash. Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. – 41 states allow charter schools. But not Washington . Opponents in the legislature recently killed a bipartisan proposal to allow a limited number of under-performing schools to convert. But supporter of the idea haven’t given up. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

For the legislature it was high drama. A stand-off in the Senate Education Committee. A coalition of five Republicans and two Democrats had the votes to advance the charter school bill. But longtime chairwoman Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, a Democrat, wouldn’t allow a vote. She explained her opposition to charter schools on TVW’s “Inside Olympia” program.

McAuliffe: “It’s a failed idea. It would implode the senate. We would have a big debate on this where there is far more important things to talk about such as the funding of education.”

Sponsors counter that their proposal is limited ten charter schools a year and no more than 50 statewide. No for-profit charter operators allowed. In the House, the prime sponsor is Democrat Eric Pettigrew, an African-American. He’s alarmed over the persistent achievement gap between white and non-white students.

Pettigrew’s stance on charter schools has put him at odds with members of his own party. It also pits a business-backed coalition against the teachers’ union. In the Washington House the charter schools idea is dead. But backers in the Senate aren’t giving up and may try to force a floor debate if they can muster the votes.